Cheesewood

Cheesewood

Pitto bic

Scientific Name

Pittosporum Bicolor

Family Name

PITTOSPORACEAE

Common Name

Cheesewood

General Information

Height 14.0m (1400cm)
Flowers Yellow or red flowers flushed with deep crimson or purple hanging on stalks.
Fruit Seed follicles
Form Small tree or stunted shrub
Municipalities Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities Montane Vegetation; Wet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes Widespread in wet forests and gullies, sea level to 1500m.
Site Tolerance Moist; Rocky; Shady
Frost Tolerance Moderate
Soil Tolerance Clay; Fertile; Loam; Well-drained
General Notes Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Flowering Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sowing Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cutting Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection Capsule rounded and compressed, at first yellowish-green then woody, 8-10mm broad, the valves woody , opening flat into 2 valves leaving the seeds in a red pulp in the centre. 8-20 seeds per capsule
Seed Treatment Method Washing
Seed Treatment Notes To separate the seed mix with dry sand. Bird-ingested seed or seed treated with pancreatin results in more rapid germination. Contains an inhibitor in the sticky seed coating & should be washed in detergent and water, then rubbed down with coarse sand for several minutes before sowing. May be prone to damping off.
Germination Time 2-3 months
Suitable For Direct Seeding Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time To Take Root 4-6 weeks
Expected Time To Plant Out 8-12 weeks
Propagation By Division No
Cutting Notes May be propagated from cuttings.